Classical Hindu Mythology (A Reader in The Sanskrit Puranas)

DETAILS : 

• Author : Cornelia Dimmitt &J.A.B. Van Buitenen
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House
  
• ISBN : 9788120839724
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 388 pages
  
• Weight : 550 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas is an essential anthology that brings the vast and often overwhelming world of the Puranas into a structured, accessible format. Edited and translated by the distinguished scholars Cornelia Dimmitt and J.A.B. van Buitenen, this book serves as a thematic guide to the myths that form the bedrock of popular Hinduism. Rather than translating a single Purana in its entirety, the authors have curated significant passages from across the corpus—including the Vishnu, Markandeya, Bhagavata, and Kurma Puranas—grouping them into logical sections such as Origins, Visions of the Deity, Krishna, and The Seer. This approach allows the reader to trace the evolution of central figures like Shiva, Vishnu, and the Goddess, and to understand the recurring cosmic cycles of creation (Srishti) and dissolution (Pralaya).

The book is celebrated for its scholarly rigor combined with a highly readable English prose style. Each section is preceded by an insightful introduction that provides historical context, philosophical underpinnings, and literary analysis. Dimmitt and van Buitenen successfully navigate the "encyclopedic" nature of the Puranas, distilling the core narratives that describe the battles between gods and demons, the genealogies of kings and sages, and the emergence of the Bhakti (devotional) tradition. It remains one of the most respected introductory "readers" for students of South Asian religions and anyone looking to understand the colorful, complex, and profound mythology that continues to shape Indian culture today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cornelia Dimmitt is a scholar of theology and South Asian studies, recognized for her ability to synthesize complex mythological structures into clear, academic narratives. Her work has focused extensively on the intersection of Sanskrit literature and religious practice.

J.A.B. van Buitenen (1928–1979) was a world-renowned Indologist and a professor of Sanskrit at the University of Chicago. He is perhaps best known for his monumental effort to translate the Mahabharata. His deep expertise in classical Sanskrit and his commitment to philological excellence made him one of the most influential figures in modern Vedic and Puranic scholarship.